Trends in the Use and Addiction of Alcohol and Other Drugs Among Michigan Adolescents

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Trends in the Use and Addiction of Alcohol and
Other Drugs Among Michigan Adolescents
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Introduction

• Speaker Stacey Williamson Nichols LMSW, CAADC
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified
  Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor
• Contact info Pine Rest Main Campus, Campus
  Clinic, 300 68th St., Grand Rapids, Mi. 49548
• 616-285-7500

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Types of Use

• Use
• Misuse
• Abuse
• Dependency

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Why do adolescents use?

• Age of experimentation
• The cool factor- how do others see me, do I
  know something they dont know
• Emotional need to feel better or avoid feeling

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What are they using?

• Cannabis/Marijuana
• Synthetic Marijuana
• OTC medication
• Prescription Medication
• Ecstacy
• Synthetic Ecstacy

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Cannabis/Marijuana

• Nationwide, 8th, 10th and 12th graders have shown
  an increase in use and a decrease in fear of use.
  (sampled between 2009 and 2010)
• 17.3 of 8th graders, 33.4 of 10th graders and
  43.8 of 12th graders have tried Marijuana
• 1.2 of 8th graders, 3.3 of 10th graders and
  6.1 of 12th graders use Marijuana daily
• While binge use of alcohol is decreasing
  somewhat, use of Marijuana continues to rise
• Viewed as natural and safe

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Synthetic Marijuana

• Sometimes called K2, Mr. Smiley, Spice
• Contains THC the psychoactive ingredient in
  Cannabis
• May cause a high similar to marijuana but there
  are concerns about ingredients causing reactions
  similar to a psychotic break and greatly
  affecting heart rate
• Unregulated, Michigan has attempted to ban but
  legislation was flawed. They continue to work on
  this.
• Can be bought at gas stations, head shops and
  other community shops
• Difficult to test for which is part of the draw
• May feel safer than Marijuana but as it is
  unregulated it may contain many unknown and very
  dangerous chemicals.
• Can cause brown stains on hands when handled
  excessively

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OTC Medication

• Robitussin, Vicks, Coricidin, Nyquil usually
  referred to on the streets as Syrup
• May also use things such as Dramamine, pain
  medication (Excedrin), sexual enhancement
  medications, diet pills
• Who supplies them with these drugs? WE DO!!
• Effects of these drugs Nod, irritable,
  initial euphoria, dilated pupils, constricted
  pupils, severe health risks (ex seeing blue)

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Prescription Medication

• Adderol, Ritalin, Vicodin, Oxycotin, Tylenol with
  Codeine, Xanax, Ativan etc.
• Usually scored from mom and dads medicine
  cabinet. Its accessibility and its prescribed
  nature may allow the belief that these are safe
  drugs
• May start out as experimentation, but all drugs
  that are listed above are addictive and change
  mood preceived mood drastically.
• To an addictive person, Vicodin, Oxy and Codeine
  (all opiates) may cause feelings of euphoria and
  feeling up and motivated.
• Xanax and Ativan are alcohol in a pill form. A
  very quick way to get drunk.
• Need to say up all night to study? Ritalin and
  Adderol will help with that!

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Ecstasy

• A recent rise in ecstasy use has been noted for
  8th and 10th graders.
• Ecstasy is seen as a party drug (raves) and thus
  is safe.
• It is an hallucinogen that can cause euphoria and
  intense sensory experiences
• Can cause a myriad of memory and cognition
  problems.

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Synthetic Ecstasy

• Has many different names
• Feels safe to use as it is seen as a non-serious
  drug
• Like Synthetic Marijuana, little is known about
  the substances found in this synthetic drug
• Variations of this have caused death
• Can be found on the internet

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What should we take from this?

• Any mood/perception/sensory change in our
  children could be an indicator of drug/alcohol
  use/abuse/dependency
• Monitor drugs in your home. Count pills, flush
  old prescriptions.
• Assess yourself for your own attitudes towards
  safe drugs. If Im stressed/sick/tired/unable
  to sleep/anxious/depressed do I look for a pill
  to fix it? Or do I attempt to work on the root
  of the problem? Our attitudes GREATLY affect our
  children.
• Kids and adults may start out using because its
  fun but tend to continue to use because it
  works in that it changes reality or mood.
• Misuse can indicate mental health needs

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Thank you!!

• Early detection of problematic behavior in our
  children can help stop the cycle of substance use
  in its tracks!